What to wear to Thanksgiving dinner: plus size outfit ideas
Plus size Thanksgiving outfit ideas that stay comfy from cooking to pie: 6 easy looks, the waistband rule, layers for drafty houses and kitchen shoes.
For Thanksgiving dinner, wear something you can sit in for hours: stretch jeans or a soft knit pant, a sweater or knit top, a layer you can take off when the kitchen heats up, and supportive shoes. Skip stiff waistbands and anything you have to keep adjusting. Dark, deep colors look festive and forgive a gravy spill.
What makes a good Thanksgiving outfit?
Thanksgiving is a long day of sitting, standing, cooking and eating. Lands' End suggests avoiding stiff fabrics and clothes that need constant adjusting, and choosing pieces that let you sit through a long drive and move easily from the kitchen to the table. Here is what that means in practice:
- A waistband that moves with you. Lands' End recommends skipping zippers and stiff waistbands for long dinners in favor of knits and fabrics with stretch.
- Layers you can remove. Lands' End suggests a knit top under a cardigan or button-down so you stay warm without looking bulky.
- Shoes for standing. Booties, flat boots or clean sneakers beat heels on a kitchen floor.
- Spill-friendly colors. Lands' End points to burgundy, pine green and navy, and fabrics that keep their color wash after wash.
Feeling full and a bit bloated after a big holiday meal is common. Cleveland Clinic notes that eating too much, too fast is a usual cause of bloating and that it typically goes away after a while. That is the practical case for stretch: you want clothes that are comfortable at 2 p.m. and at 8 p.m.
6 plus size Thanksgiving outfit ideas
- Dark stretch skinny jeans, a drapey blouse, an oversized cardigan and ankle boots. St. Louis Magazine recommends stretch jeans in black or dark wash with a loose blouse and a cozy cardigan or wrap.
- Flare pants, a turtleneck sweater and loafers. Reads dressed up, feels like loungewear.
- A sweater dress with fleece-lined tights and boots. Lands' End calls a simple sweater dress a relaxed option for long dinners.
- Jeans, a heavyweight tee and a long cardigan. For a casual house where everyone ends up on the couch for football.
- Knit pants with a tunic and a vest. Lands' End suggests a puffer vest or shacket for drafty houses and chilly cars.
- Corduroy pants with a button-down over a knit top. Lands' End lists corduroy with a bit of stretch as a fabric that gives you room to move.
How dressed up should you be for Thanksgiving?
Match the house, not the holiday. If you are not sure, ask the host what everyone usually wears; most people are happy to tell you. A safe middle ground is one step above what you would wear to visit on a normal weekend: dark jeans or a nice knit pant instead of leggings, a real sweater or blouse instead of a tee, and shoes you would wear to a casual restaurant. It is easy to take a look down a notch by losing the jewelry or swapping the cardigan for a hoodie on the couch later. It is much harder to dress up a look that started as loungewear.
For a dressier dinner, St. Louis Magazine suggests a silk or silk-blend blouse, or metallic and champagne tones, with dark denim and ankle boots. For a casual family day, a soft sweater with jeans is plenty.
Jeans or knit pants for Thanksgiving?
Both work. Jeans look more polished in photos and with a nice sweater; knit or pull-on pants are softer for a long drive and a long meal. If you choose jeans, choose stretch and fit them at the waist and hip so they do not dig in when you sit. A high rise that stays put is more comfortable than a low rise you keep pulling up. Our guide to jeans for curvy women covers rise and fit in detail.
Our Stretch Skinny Jeans are cotton and spandex stretch denim sized for curves, M to 3XL, in Light Wash, Royal Blue, Onyx or Gray Wash. Choose by your waist and hips and size up between sizes. They ship from our China warehouse, so they take longer to arrive. If you would rather have a full outfit that ships from the US, The Winter Layers Set pairs our Cable Sleeve Turtleneck Sweater (relaxed 100% polyester knit, S to 3XL) with the Scrunch Back Flare Pant and fleece-lined tights for dress days.
What should you wear if you are hosting or cooking?
Dress in two stages. Cook in a close-fitting top with sleeves you can push up, an apron and supportive shoes. USF fire safety guidance tells cooks to wear short or close-fitting sleeves because loose clothing can catch fire, so wide bell sleeves, dangling scarves and long open cardigans should wait until the oven is off. Then add the cardigan, jewelry or scarf right before guests sit down. Keep a stain stick in the kitchen drawer.
How do you dress for a drafty house or a long drive?
- Wear a light knit base so you can strip down in a warm kitchen.
- Add a cardigan, vest or shacket for chilly cars and old houses, as Lands' End suggests.
- Choose wrinkle-resistant fabrics if you are traveling.
- Pack warm socks or tights for the walk from the car.
- Bring slippers if the host is a shoes-off house.
For more on staying warm without bulk, see how to layer for winter. If you are already thinking about December, our guide on what to wear to a holiday family dinner picks up where this one leaves off.
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Questions
What do you wear to Thanksgiving dinner?
Something comfortable to sit in for hours: stretch jeans or a knit pant, a soft sweater or knit top, a layer you can take off, and supportive shoes. Match the dressiness to the host's house.
What should I wear to Thanksgiving if I want to be comfortable after eating?
Skip stiff waistbands. Lands' End suggests avoiding zippers and stiff waistbands for long dinners and choosing knits with a bit of stretch, or a simple sweater dress.
Is it okay to wear jeans to Thanksgiving?
In most homes, yes. Dark or black stretch jeans with a nice sweater look dressed up, and St. Louis Magazine recommends exactly that pairing for a comfortable, polished look.
What colors are good for Thanksgiving?
Deep seasonal colors like burgundy, pine green, navy, camel and rust. Lands' End points to burgundy, pine green and navy, and darker colors are also kinder to gravy spills.
What should I wear if I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner?
Short or close-fitting sleeves near the stove. USF fire safety guidance warns that loose clothing can catch fire, so push up wide sleeves or change after cooking.
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Sources: Lands' End: Thanksgiving outfits style guide · St. Louis Magazine: choosing a stylish and comfortable Thanksgiving outfit · Cleveland Clinic: bloated stomach · University of South Florida Environmental Health and Safety: cooking safety